WWI Digest 668
Topics covered in this issue include:
1) Re: Albatros C.III 766/16
by DavidL1217@aol.com
2) Re: Aurora/Glencoe DH4
by "huggins@onramp.net"
3) Phoebus books/Hannover Cl.II/III camo
by mgoodwin
4) Brampton Flying Club Fly-In
by kevinkim@interlog.com (barrett)
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Date: Sun, 7 Sep 1997 10:16:55 -0400 (EDT)
From: DavidL1217@aol.com
To: wwi
Subject: Re: Albatros C.III 766/16
Message-ID: <970907101655_-1702550342@emout02.mail.aol.com>
I am glad to see that several of us have the Meikraft Albatros CIII. One of
their better Czechmaster knock offs!
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Date: Sun, 7 Sep 1997 12:18:27 -0500
From: "huggins@onramp.net"
To: wwi
Subject: Re: Aurora/Glencoe DH4
Message-ID:
>On Sat, 6 Sep 1997 16:48:26 -0400 GRBroman@aol.com writes:
>
>> Any one else going to RCHTA? Time to dust off Le Buttons
>> again?
I should be there for the duration. Look fot the button.
John
Disclaimer: Any errors in spelling, tact, or fact are transmission errors.
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Date: Sun, 07 Sep 1997 10:43:41 -0700
From: mgoodwin
To: wwi
Subject: Phoebus books/Hannover Cl.II/III camo
Message-ID: <3412E7CD.1AB3@ricochet.net>
Picked up a bound collection of Phoebus books which included Fighters
1914-39 and Bombers 1914-39. The illustrations are by the prolific John
Batchelor (c.1974 & 1978), about whom I know nothing. On pg.37 of the
fighters section is a Cl.IIIa sporting Schlasta 12 markings and dk
green/mauve(lilac?)/grey scheme on all upper surfaces. Could this scheme
be possibly quasi-accurate, or did this guy just dislike painting
lozenge from an oblique perspective? I've already checked out the
datafile and read about the prototype schemes etc., and noticed
Rickenbacker's 'black machine' quote. Even though most photos show
printed loz. fabric flying surfaces and hand applied/oversprayed
fuselage, it's possible some aircraft were repaired & refinished in the
field in non-standard schemes ('customized' to suit their
crews)...post-war aircraft in foreign service are a good example of
this.
I know I'm reaching!
Riordan
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Date: Sun, 7 Sep 1997 22:59:28 -0500
From: kevinkim@interlog.com (barrett)
To: wwi
Subject: Brampton Flying Club Fly-In
Message-ID:
To the list:
Hello from Toronto. One of our local flying clubs (the Brampton Flying
Club) had an antique plane fly-in today. Since the club maintains 5 WWI
replicas (that I hadn't seen yet!), I thought this was a great opportunity
to get out there for the afternoon.
They flew their Fok Dr.1, Fok D.VII, and 85% scale SE5a. Very nice,
colourful planes. Their full-scale SE5a was having its engine overhauled,
so unfortunately, it wasn't flying - but even in the hangar it was quite
impressive. The club also has a replica Nie.28, but it was flipped on
landing earlier this year and the upper wing is still being repaired. The
fuselage was on display nonetheless. There were some 15 other aircraft
flown in from other clubs and airports across Southern Ontario, all of
1920-1940 vintage - DeHavilands and Pipers, mostly.
Also had an opportunity to take a flight as a passenger in a two-seater
open-cockpit "Starduster" stunt plane. Having never flown open-cockpit
before, I must say that it was quite an experience. Fantastic, actually. As
luck would have it, the SE5a and Fok Dr.1 took off just before I did to do
some mock-pursuit over the aerodrome. At about 200 meters altitude and a
half kilometer away, I had an excellent aerial view of these two birds -
the Fokker slowly creeping up behind the SE5a with low clouds and forest
and fields full of corn below. What a sight!
Anyway, for those who've ever wondered about how easy it was (is) to see
brightly coloured combat aircraft from the air - let me tell you first hand
that at a kilometer distance in partly overcast skys, a bright red Fokker
Triplane is a dark-grey speck. Rondels and crosses are indistinguishable,
and anyone would have to be lucky, or very skilled, to pick them out of the
background of trees and fields while looking downwards. The only way I was
able to see the Triplane a mile off after a few wing-overs in the
"Starduster" was knowing the general vicinity where it was, and then having
the good fortune to fly perpendicular to its flight path - so that it
seemed to be a speck that moved laterally across the surrounding terrain. I
couldn't see any colour in the planes past a kilometer or so.
If I can digress for a moment: Maybe this was one of the motivators for
early tacticians to promote formation flying? Keep everyone close together
and then you know who your friends are! Kilduff's Richtofen book certainly
gives plenty of evidence that MvR was a proponent of formations, and spent
a lot of time and effort drilling his pilots about how to reform after a
battle - letting them know where he would be and how to get to him to
continue a patrol. Certainly, a garish paint scheme was necessary for
identification. After todays experiences, I'd say absolutely necessary.
All-in-all, a fine day - and an eye-opener too.
Have a great week, everyone.
Kevin Barrett
nb: Starting into my winter project of 5 SE5as. (Uugh! So much fabric
texture to sand off!)
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End of WWI Digest 668
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